Did any of you guys( and girls, of course) see those Opening Ceremonies???? That was Spectacular! What did you think about the Tribal Contribution? Was it good, was it respectful of tradition? Please, tell me your spin on them. I want to know.

Looked good to me. Not sure if "respectful" was important, but I think they were given that part of the show to do what they felt was right. I just wanna know who the 5 drums were? That was my all time favorite song.

I was totally blown away at the Ceremonies - I thought they were very respectful and was pleased at the large Native American presence there - Wow! It made me so proud - I called my family and we watched this historical event together - don't know if it will ever happen again, but maybe when my son, who is now almost 3, is a dad, he can tell his kids about it and they can know that the Native American presence was def part of the 2002 Winter Olympics. :)

I think the opening ceremonies were great. It did my heart good watching the Native American Indians for once in history take a rightful place in the Olympics during the opening ceremonies. Tears of joy ran down my face, besides being speechless, it was just an awesome experience to behold.

I think the opening ceremonies were great. It did my heart good watching the Native American Indians for once in history take a rightful place in the Olympics during the opening ceremonies. Tears of joy ran down my face, besides being speechless, it was just an awesome experience to behold.

NBC showed some dancers and vendors today during the Men's Cross Country Ski. I hope they (NBC) give NDNs the long over-due recognition you deserve every day of the Olympics and longer - like forever.
I get a lump in my throat everytime I think about it.
:Thumbs: :clap: :dancer: :dancer: :clap:

I don't remember when I have been so proud. It was just so awesome to see. Not only to have so many natives in one place but getting some of the attention that is soooooooo long overdue. I was so overcome with emotion. My daughter at first thought I was being silly, then she started to cry. I won't forget it. It truly was a moment in history for me.:)

The opening with the Indian dancers was FANTASTIC!!!!!!
It absolutely had me shaking in my chair!!!
I was expecting it to be a small presentation....in fact I was afraid when they did the Indian portion of the show it would be very small, and it would be my luck that the network would go to commercial about the time they came out to dance.
So I was really proud, and SO THANKFUL that they were on for so long!!!! What a great show!!!!
Didn't it just make you jump out of your chair and dance with them!!!! WOW!!!!

The winter Olympics are always a favorite at our house. This year's opening was incredible. The best that I had seen in a loooong time. Very respectful. Does anyone know the names of the five elders that took part in the presentation?

At the begining to see the WTC flag was heartbreaking. But tears of sorrow were quickly changed to tears of joy! I jumped out of my chair and started dancing in place. It was overwhelming !!!:clap: :flag:

Does anyone know the names of the five elders that took part in the presentation?

you would kind of think that for such an important event, such a historical moment, that they would have bothered to mention these things, wouldn't you? I mean, especially since they took at least 3 full minutes to talk about Robbie Robertson, Rita Coolidge, and their heritage. :Thinking I wasn't entirely certain why their music was being used in the first place, which isnt to say that I don't like Robbie Robertson, 'cause I do, I'm just not sure that was the time or place for it. But then, without them maybe the skating glittery eagle hockey team would've felt out of place. :Eyebrows

The opening ceremony of the WINTER Olmpics was awsome. It definetly has everyone talking about it. Everytime I turn around someone is asking if I watched it. It put a silence to the whole room when we saw it.

Here in Australia my family and I too watched the opening, and the Indian segement was fabulous. and it makes me glad to know that so many of you approved. I too remember that feeling of amazing pride when Aboriginal Australians had such a prominent position in the opening of the last summer Olympics in Sydney.

Here in Australia since the early 90's , many significant large events and and community events are opened by Aboriginal people and dancers, even our state Parliment is opened by Aboriginal Reps when it convenes for the start of the year. The largest Rock Festival iin our state is even opened every year by Aboriginal artists. The next step of this is Aboriginal Australians to be more then just in the opening of such events, but to be threaded all the way through such an event.

Also thanks to this great site I was able to point out to my family the jingle dancers, the bustles, the hoop dancers, fancy feathers etc. Thanks to all those who post so i can be educated about your culture.

I knew that the Olympic committee had planned to "honor" the NAs in some way, but WOW -- the honor was FANTASTIC! Not only was the event both powerful and touching, I was pleased to see so many of the people there. To me, the most impressive part was when the four chiefs/leaders were brought out on horseback. It linked the present-day powwow dancers to the old people, the traditionals, so beautifully. And the fact that there was such a wonderfully large production that involved so many elements -- yes, I definitely applaud the Olympic committee. Waste, well done!!